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Help for homeless ex-services

Below is a list of organisations who may be able to offer support and advice to former members of the armed forces who may be homeless or those concerned about homelessness amongst former members of the armed forces.

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The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to all those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as their dependants. Anyone who has served in the forces for 7 days or more is eligible for help, as well as TA's, Reservists and men and women who served with the Mercantile Marine afloat in hostile waters.

How can they help?

The Legion can provide support and assistance to ex-Service people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation in a variety of ways, although it has no actual accommodation to offer. This can include immediate needs like household goods or rent, practical advice on housing and getting a job, education/training (including distance learning), equipment and/or work tools and relocation costs.

Combat Stress - The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society - supports British ex-Servicemen and women who have been profoundly traumatised by harrowing experiences during Service life. The Society was founded in 1919 to provide remedial treatment, care and employment for veterans returning from First World War suffering from "shell-shock" and today continues to provide remedial treatment and care, as well as community-based welfare support to help our clients return to normal living.

How can they help?

Combat Stress is part of the Ex-Services Action Group on Homelessness, and works with the Homeless and Rough sleeping charities, offering help to ex-servicemen and women whose problems may in part be attributable to mental health issues. In addition Regional Welfare Officers are able to seek help from all the ex-service charities, both in terms of accommodation and help with furnishing and equipping a home.

ContactWelfare Support Team South: 01372 841680Welfare Support Team Wales and Midlands: 01952 820335Welfare Support Team Scotland and Northern England: 01292 560322Welfare Support Team Ireland: 02890 233894Email: contactus@combatstress.org.uk

SSAFA is the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen and Families Association - a national charity helping serving and ex-Service men, women and their families, including widows and widowers in need. Eligibility for help is one day's paid service in any of HM forces and National Service, and those who completed a period of satisfactory service in the Reserves.

How can they help?

SSAFA Forces Help has a Homelessness Representative in London called John Boyle who can be contacted on 020 7491 8702.

Homeless people outside the London area can contact the Housing Advisory Service which offers free, confidential and impartial advice and guidance on all aspects of housing. Please call 01722 436400.

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people and works year-round across the UK helping people fulfil their potential and transform their lives. Crisis helps rebuild the lives of homeless people by helping those trapped in the cycle of homelessness and raising awareness of their plight. Crisis estimates that there are 380,000 hidden homeless people in Britain, living in hostels, temporary bed and breakfast accommodation, and squats or sleeping on the floors of friends and family.

How can they help?

As well as campaigning, policy and research work to raise awareness and understanding of and effecting change for the Hidden Homeless, Crisis runs a number of innovative services that help homeless people rebuild their social and practical skills, join the world of work and reintegrate back into society. CRISIS have also been one of the major contributors in research on homelessness and ex-service personnel, publishing two reports on the issue looking at the changes that had been made in terms of service provision for ex-Service, and identifying what more can be done.

Shelter is a leading national housing and homelessness charity, with regional branches nationwide.

How can they help?

Shelter helps 100,000 homeless or badly housed people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. Shelter also campaigns for new laws, policies and solutions. Shelter's network of advice centres across the country offer free, confidential, expert housing advice and advocacy to anyone with a housing problem.

A Ministry of Defence confidential Helpline that advises veterans and their dependents how to obtain expert advice on any issue that concerns them. Helpline staff also advise and assist with claims for a War Pension and associated supplementary allowances.

Contact

The Helpline is open from 8.15 am to 5.15 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.15 am to 4.30 pm on Friday. Calls within the UK are free.

The National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) seeks to prevent and alleviate homelessness and housing problems by enabling the widest possible access to expert housing advice, information and advocacy. It is a partnership between Citizens Advice and Shelter that began in 1990 and is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

How can they help?

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will be able to provide specialist housing advice through the National Homelessness Advice Service Association (run by Shelter). Call the National Association of CABs to find where your nearest CAB is or visit their website.

A charitable Housing Association with over 1,250 homes throughout the UK for the ex-Service community.

How can they help?

The Trust operates in 43 local authority areas in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Its mix of general needs properties range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, generally arranged in small estates. The majority of properties are family sized three-bedroom houses. There is no sheltered, warden assisted or care home accommodation but the Trust maintains close links with organisations providing such specialist accommodation.

SPACES is an accommodation placement centre designed to provide help to single Service leavers seeking appropriate civilian housing. The agency works in close collaboration with the JSHAO, Catterick Regional Resettlement and Welfare Centre, and local ex- Service benevolent organisations.

SOSF is a charity established to house and support disabled veterans, many of whom approach them because they have become or are about to become homeless. SOSF will refer veterans in these circumstances to our outreach service, the Ex-Service Resettlement Project, whose staff are trained to support Veterans so that they are found immediate shelter and assisted through "routes" to get them back on their feet and into long term accommodation with SOSF.

How can they help?SOSF provides housing in supportive ex-service communities and assists many veterans within these communities who suffer from PTSD. SOSF does this through trained support staff who will ensure that the specialist psychiatric services needed are available to SOSF residents who require them.

SOSF has also developed contacts across both local and national providers of services that help our residents tackle their poor mental health and/or substance misuse issues. In particular SOSF work with the Alcohol Recovery Project (ARP) and Combat Stress (formerly the Ex-Service Mental Welfare Society) both of whom provide specialist services to help clients tackle these issues and who provide professionally qualified support throughout the process.

Home Base is a project for homeless or potentially homeless ex-service personnel. Home Base provides psychological therapies within a therapeutic environment. CHT runs this project in partnership with Central and Cecil Housing Trust (CCHT), the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation (SOSF) and Haig Homes.

How can they help?

Ex-service personnel are often confronted with a wide variety of problems including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance misuse, inadequate life skills and institutionalisation.
The main aim of Home Base is to help its clients overcome their psychological difficulties and integrate successfully into civilian life by developing the appropriate life skills for successful living, including re-training for work, through CHT?s close links with Business Action on Homelessness and Project Compass.

Contact

Telephone: 0208 749 4885
Email: homebase@cht.org.uk

EX-SERVICE FELLOWSHIP CENTRES

Who are they?

The Ex-Service Fellowship Centres operate a London Relief Centre for help to needy ex Service persons and dependents, and a hostel for homeless ex-Service persons.

How can they help?

The London Relief Centre offers immediate help through small cash grants, the provision of clothing and footwear, meal and travel vouchers, and advice and assistance with personal problems including job applications and benefits. The hostel for homeless ex-Service personnel is at New Belvedere House in Stepney East London.

The project is an assessment and resettlement service for ex-Service personnel with a background of homelessness and who have poor mental health and/or alcohol abuse problems. Funded by the Royal British Legion, the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation and other charities, the project works from a number of centres in London frequented by homeless ex-Service personnel.

How can they help?

The project is managed by the Alcohol Recovery Project and takes ex-Service referrals from other homeless organisations. The project aims to settle homeless ex-Service personnel in decent temporary accommodation so that their personal issues can be addressed and a plan put in place to work towards recovery, rebuilding their lives and a move to suitable permanent accommodation.